Brush Local News

Pages of the Past

Editor's note: Following are excerpts from some of the top news items from Brush News-Tribune stories of the past on or near this date in history, written as they would have appeared at the time.

February 26, 1948

70 years ago

MARCH OF DIMES BOXES STOLEN: Following the report of the March of Dimes collections released last week, Brush persons were wondering why Central school students gave $204.82 as compared with $4.90 received from the high school.

One of the reasons for the vast difference was contributed to the fact that two containers were stolen from the school building during the drive, according to Principal Kenneth Simmons. Five containers were placed in various parts of the building and the two missing were taken from the auditorium.

Last fall members of the football squad reported losses approximating $60 when their clothes were rifled in the locker room during a night game.

AREA HOSTS AT DISTRICT RALLY: The members of the American Legion auxiliary entertained at a sub-district rally Thursday evening beginning with a subscription dinner at the Hotel Carroll with 62 guests attending.

The meeting was opened by Mrs. Walter Stratton, president of the local unit. Reports were given by the presidents of the five units with Edna Klindt presiding at the business meeting.

A musical program was presented by Mrs. C. L. Oldemeyer and Mrs. Herbert Fries.

Following the meeting tea was served from a tea table graced with patriotic motifs with Mrs. Lila Lary and Mrs. F. E. Luethi presiding.

February 28, 1968

50 years ago

STUBBORN SMOKE STACK STANDS SEVERE SHOCKS: The 200 foot high smokestack of the razed Great Western Sugar factory northeast of Brush was dynamited to the ground last Friday. Demolition experts found the old landmark a stubborn object to destroy.

Reinforced by tons of steel rods, the old chimney which had loomed against the skyline for 62 years, required hundreds of sticks of dynamite and three days of minor explosions against its base before it was weakened enough to topple.

After a series of small holes had been blown in its base during the week, a charge of 30 sticks of dynamite was prepared against its lower wall, and nine-thirty o'clock was announced as the time for the final blast on Friday.

A crowd of spectators in cars was present for the event. A workman plunged the lever at 9:41 a.m. The smokestack, however, did not even shudder, and ignored the dynamite as tho it were so many firecrackers. The chimney had a temporary reprieve, and the crowd left.

A new charge of 48 sticks of dynamite was next placed in the opening made by the first explosion, and this proved to be the lethal blow. At 1:18 p.m. the detonation rocked the stack and it fell to the west in a cloud of dust. Dozens of photographers recorded the fall, which marked the end of sugar manufacturing history in Brush.

It was the last remaining structure of the original factory to be razed, leaving only the warehouses standing on the site. These will be retained as of possible value to any future industry which might locate in the area.

The demolition team under Richard Davis of the Colorado Demolition company, Bill Sanders of Brighton, and Manual P. Gonzalez of Ft. Morgan, will now move on to Ft. Collins where a similar smokestack will be destroyed. The Ft. Collins factory, also closed by the Great Western Sugar company in 1954, had likewise been razed.

At the time of its erection in 1906, the Brush smokestack was considered a marvel of engineering, providing powerful draft for the new $1,000,000 sugar factory which brought Brush its first surge of building and prosperity.

The original smokestack was rebuilt and heightened in 1937. However automation and declining acreages of sugar beets in the Brush area made it uneconomical to continue manufacturing operations here, and the factory was closed down forever in 1954 after 49 sugar making campaigns.

SPEAKER TELLS OF VIETNAM: In one of its most interesting Monday sessions, the Chamber of Commerce listened to an impassioned talk by a far-out "Hawk" and conferred its "Star Employee Award" on a very deserving supermarket clerk.

Mrs. Betty Compton, who has been a checker in a Brush supermarket for 15 years received the second Star Employee Award given by the Chamber of Commerce on the basis of her friendliness, courtesy, appearance and helpfulness to customers.

Art Peterson, Channel 9's "Man on the Go" kept his audience fascinated with his story of his experiences in Vietnam. A vigorous Hawk, he said that the war there could be ended in short order if permission were given to bomb Haiphong Harbor. He later explained that he meant only the docks and unloading areas should be bombed.

He called the war a political war in which this nation is fighting figuratively with one arm tied behind it back. At the present rate, without escalation and unrestricted bombing he thought that it could last for 20 more years.

Peterson would go in and get the Pueblo at all costs, and termed the war a frustrating, stinking situation in which America might win all battles and lose the peace. Such an ending, he said, would be typical of our international efforts in the past half century.

Vice president Mike Erosky presided at the meeting, which brought out a large attendance.

March 2, 1988

30 years ago

CHARLES STARR CELEBRATES 100: Charles Starr is celebrating his 100th birthday March 11 with a family dinner and an open house at Centennial Manor. Friends and relatives are invited to share the celebration from two to four o'clock, but the family requests that there be no gifts.

Starr was born March 11, 1888, on a farm north of Lebanon, Kans. In 1921 he and his wife, Dora, moved to Brush where he bought a barber shop which he operated as Starr's Barber Shop until 1966 when he retired. Starr was a City Councilman and served on the first board of directors when Memorial Park land was bought in 1924 and remained involved when the Brush Rodeo was started. He was the starter for the horse races for many years and was named Outstanding Pioneer in 1978.

The centenarian makes his home at Centennial where he continues his love of sports and friends and family.

The 100th birthday may be noted nationwide because the family has requested that it be announced on the Today Show on NBC television at about 8:30 a.m. March 11.

Planning the celebration are sons Jack and Virginia Starr of Fullerton, Calif., Dean and Joan Starr of Waukesha, Wisc., and daughters-in-law Mrs. Clare (Bevah) Starr of Brush and Mrs. William (Tillie) Anderson of Grand Junction. He has four sons and one daughter, nine grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 14 great great grandchildren.

USA NETWORK TO FILM PARTY AWARDED TO BRUSH 6-YEAR-OLD: Carmin Garcilazo's birthday party Saturday is to be no ordinary birthday.

The daughter of Jorge and Judy Garcilazo of Brush turns six on Friday and Saturday she will be honored like no other six-year-old. Garcilazo won a nationwide drawing conducted by USA cable TV network through Telecommunications, Inc.

Local cable television is provided by a division of TCI, the nation's second largest cable operator.

Garcilazo's name was drawn from more than 50,000 entries. Entry blanks were available in the Fort Morgan Cable TV office in November and the last day to enter was Dec. 31, according to local office manager Sheryl Rigli.

USA network is to sponsor the birthday party from 1 to 4 p.m. at Bunker Hill Country Club.

Rigli said USA officials from New York City are to b e in town Friday and stay for the birthday party, which is to feature Quick Draw McGraw, Yogi Bear and the Flintstones. The party is to be filmed for later broadcasting on the cable network.

The network is to pay for the party of 50 as well as provide prizes and scholarships for Garcilazo

ACKLEY ANNOUNCES COLORING WINNERS: Ackley Building Center recently conducted a coloring contest with the entries now decorating the walls of the business at 1402 Mill St.

Owners Dale and Marilyn Stinton gave $10 to each first place winner and $5 to each second placer. Winners in the 10-12 year old category were Chad Queen, first, crystal Hurd, second. Neil Krob and Nicole Balderston won in the 7 to 9 class and Mandy Christensen and Jeremy Oaks Martinez were the six and under winners.

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